Windows 10 On ARM: Laptops with Snapdragon Processors LTE Tablets

It’s a Deja Vu moment for us when we first head about laptops with Snapdragon Processors. It has always crossed our minds about mobile processors powering laptops since their performance has improved dramatically over the last few years. On top of that, their low power consumption and LTE radios make it more attractive as an always-on PC. We weren’t wrong after all! Are we finally seeing a happy marriage between mobiles and laptops? Time will tell.

The happy marriage is made possible by emulating X86 code to be able to run on ARM CPU’s. This makes it more exciting, just because, all Windows applications would work natively on these PCs, unlike Microsft’s earlier attempt. What we don’t know is what would be the performance impact due to the emulation process.

In the tech world, laptops with Snapdragon processors are quite a hot discussion these days and have taken center stage, promising to change our lives for good. These devices with ARM-based processors will possibly arrive in the first quarter of 2018. HP, ASUS, and Lenovo have already unveiled Laptops with Snapdragons 835 processors. However, these devices are yet to be launched for sale. They are expected to cost within the price range of $600 to $800. However, do check the final price on the various marketplaces, since pricing does change a lot.

These laptops will be equipped with Windows 10 S and would run UWP (Universal Windows Platform) where developers can target their apps to a specific platform. In addition to this, they would also be able to run a full version of Windows and can even join a domain controller. Compared to x86 Intel-based laptops, these devices are said to have better efficiency, performance and deliver always-on connectivity. Currently, there are three models of such devices presented by different brands as follows:

Laptops with Snapdragon Processors

1. Lenovo Miix 630 2-in-1:

Lenovo recently unveiled its first Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 based 2-in-1 notebook. It will run Microsoft Windows 10 S OS. Lenovo promises up-to 20 hours of battery life and built-in Gigabit LTE Modem. It is a detachable notebook with a 12.3” WUXGA + LCD. Once the keyboard is outfitted, they z-height for display is 15.6mm. Since it will feature Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 835 SoC Processor, it does not mean that it is a tablet with attachable keyboard. New Lenovo Miix 630 is indeed a convertible laptop.

It will feature 4/8 GB of ram, USB C connector, dedicated SD Card Readers and up to 256 GB of NAND Flash UFS Storage. As we are talking about it having Windows 10 S, many of you may wonder if it will support Cortana voice assistance. Well, yes! Lenovo Miix 630 comes with Cortana voice assistance. It also supports facial recognition thanks to IR Enabled webcam.

Connectivity and Battery Life are two most anticipated features in Lenovo Miix 630. It comes with dual-band 802.11 ac Wi-Fi, BT 4.1 and Gigabit LTE Modem. Moreover, they promise 20 hours of working battery life. We do not yet know if their promise will be fulfilled; the only way to know is to wait for the launch of the laptop.

The Lenovo Miix 630 Specifications:

Following are all known specs for Lenovo Miix 630 convertible Laptop:

Display

12.3” inch display with

1920 x 1280 resolution

187 PPI pixel density

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Processor

4x Kryo 280 Performance (2.45 GHz)

4x Kryo Efficiency (1.9 GHz)

Graphics

Adreno 540 GPU and 710 MHz

RAM

4 GB and 8 GB variations

Storage

64 to 256 GB variations

Wi-Fi

2×2 802.11 ac Wi-Fi

Bluetooth

Bluetooth 4.1

WWAN

Qualcomm x16 Gigabit LTE modem inbuilt

USB

1x Type C USB 3.0

Cameras

5 MP front camera with IR and Windows Hello

13 MP rear camera

I/O configuration

Microphone, Stereo Speakers, Audio Jack, Trackpad, Card Reader, Etc

Battery

48 Wh battery, promising up to 20 hours of working battery life

Dimension

298 x 210 x 15.6 mm

11.5 x 8.2 x 0.6 inch

Weight

1.33 KG or 2.93 Lbs

Lenovo Miix 630 is expected to hit the market in March or April, and the price range is going to be within $799. This price is quite competitive as many Intel Processor-based convertibles are also sold for $800. Lenovo seeks to target the users who expect Windows 10, LTE connectivity and long-lasting battery life in a single package. It is going to be a nice option for such people compared to x86 Intel-based notebooks. Let’s move to next mode!

2. Asus Nova Go [TP370QL]:

Asus unveiled their TP370QL or simply Nova Go in Qualcomm’s second annual tech summit along with HP Envy x2. This is their always-connected PC, based on Windows 10 S and LTE connectivity, and of course, Snapdragon processors.

Asus Nova Go comes with a Snapdragon 835 chipset. It is not unknown as it was present in many premium smartphones including Pixel 2, Galaxy Note 8, LG V30, Xperia XZ Premium and Razer Phone. The chip features Qualcomm’s Snapdragon x16 modem supporting Gigabit LTE whenever available. It provides a standard Nano Sim Card slot. There is no confirmation when this eSIM will get activated for use, but at least they have a slot.

Like Lenovo Miix 630, Nova Go also comes in a convertible form factor. They promise a video playback of 22 hours once fully charged, which is more than enough.

What we would like to appreciate about Asus Nova Go other than the battery life and connectivity is the proper set of ports. It features a USB Type A, 3.5 mm audio jack and HDMI as well. It has the anticipated always-on connectivity on Windows 10 S. However, it lacks USB-C port, and it is a little bit heavy too. Following are some confirmed technical details:

Asus Nova Go Specifications:

Here are some confirmed technical aspects and specifications by Asus:

Finish / Color

Sky Grey

Plastic Fiber Body

Operating System

Windows 10 S

Free upgrade to Windows 10 Pro

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 Mobile Processor

2.6 GHz CPU clock rate

GPU

Adreno 540 GPU

710 MHz GPU clock rate

Display

13.3” LED backlit Full HD 1920 x 1080 display

100% sRGB Color Gamut

178-degree wide view technology

8.9 mm thin bezel with 78% screen to body ratio

RAM

4 GB / 6 GB / 8 GB variations

1866 MHz LPDDR4x Onboard Memory

Storage

64 GB / 128 GB / 256 GB variations

UFS 2.0 storage

Interfaces

2x USB 3.1 Gen 1 Type A

1x Audio Jack, Headphone/mi-in

1x Combo Nano Sim

1x Micro SD card reader slot supporting up to 256GB

1x HDMI port

1x DC in

Keyboard and Touchpad

Full size backlit keyboard with 1.4mm key travel

Glass covered touchpad with intelligent palm rejection and precision touchpad support with up to four-finger gestures

Other Sensors

Side mounted fingerprint sensor on touchpad

Audio

2x speakers

ASUS Sonic Master Premier Stereo audio system

Smart amplifier

Array microphone with Cortana Voice Recognition

Camera

1280 x 720 HD Camera

Wireless Connectivity

802.11 a/b/g/n

802.11 ac 2×2 MIMO

Qualcomm Snapdragon x16 modem

Gigabit LTE with DL: 1 GB/s UL: 150 MB/s

4 x 4 MIMO

Battery

52 Wh lithium polymer battery with 22 hours of working battery life and 30 days of modern standby

Dimension

0.59 x 12.44 x 8.7 inches

1.49 x 31.6 x 22.1 cm

Weight

1.39 KG / 3.06 pounds

Software Included

ASUS Splendid

ASUS Eye Care

ASUS Tru2life Video

ASUS Audi Wizard

Note: Supports modern Windows 10 features including Windows Ink, Windows Hello, Windows Cortana Voice Assistance and Modern Standby. Let us move to the next model!

3. HP Envy X2:

There is not much known about this upcoming HP Envy X2 convertible notebook. It will feature an impressive 22 hours battery life, 4G LTE connectivity, packed in durable body design. The convertible design with 4G connectivity makes it an on the go device. Whether you are working or traveling, it suits all your needs. With a Snapdragon 835 chip, it provides a power efficient platform, which allows it to deliver faster LTE connectivity without affecting the battery life or performance.

Multiple viewing angles are supported with the innovative hinge design, which delivers an elevated laptop and tablet experience. It is pretty light and weighs only 1.21 kg, making it an ideal portable notebook. It comes with Corning Gorilla glass protection making your display scratch resistance and nearly indestructible. HP promises fantastic typing experience with the soft keyboard in oxford blue magnetic stands.

With a detachable keyboard, it has two modes: laptop and tablet. Tablet mode is pretty easy to handle since it supports Windows pen touch and Ink technologies. This enhanced version of windows is said to deliver faster boot times, enhanced responsiveness and added protection.

HP Envy X2 Specifications:

Here are some confirmed technical aspects and specifications by HP:

Display

WUXGA + LED Display

1920 x 1080 Full HD Resolution for superior interaction experience

Battery Life

22 hours of local video playback

1000 hours of connected standby time

0 to 90% charging within 90 minutes with fast charging technology

LTE Connectivity

Qualcomm Snapdragon x16 LTE modem supporting 4G LTE connections

CPU

Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 CPU

Weight

1.21 KG

Windows Features

Cortana Voice Assistance

Windows Pen support

Windows Ink support

Camera

13 MP rear camera

5 MP front camera

Interface

1x USB Type C port

Micro SD Card reader

SIM card slot

Combo audio jack for headphone and microphone

Volume rocker

Audio

Dual HP Speakers

Operating System

Windows 10 S

Storage

Up to 256 GH of storage in various variations

Conclusion:

These are the only notebooks with Snapdragon processor and LTE connectivity, unveiled by their respective manufacturer so far. We have covered every detail we could find about them from various sources. We hope this post helps you to understand more about this new kind of mobile-processor based notebooks, which are going to hit the market soon. In case if you have any query or suggestions feel free to use the comment section below.

Disclosure: We are a professional review website that sometimes receive compensation or free units from the companies whose products we review. We test each product thoroughly and give high marks to only the very best. We are independently owned and the opinions expressed here are our own.